Biol211 Chapter 18

Front

What is the role of enhancers in gene expression?

Back

Enhancers are regulatory DNA sequences that increase the likelihood of transcription of a particular gene by providing binding sites for transcription factors.

Front

What is transcriptional control of gene expression?

Back

Transcriptional control refers to the mechanisms that regulate the transcription of genes, determining when and how much of a gene is expressed.

Front

What is a corepressor in the context of operons?

Back

A corepressor is a molecule that binds to a repressor protein, enabling it to bind to the operator region of an operon, thus inhibiting transcription.

Front

What are proto-oncogenes?

Back

Proto-oncogenes are normal genes that help regulate cell growth and division; mutations can convert them into oncogenes, which can lead to cancer.

Front

What is the difference between a proto-oncogene and an oncogene?

Back

A proto-oncogene is a normal gene that can become an oncogene due to mutations or increased expression, leading to uncontrolled cell growth.

Front

What is gene suppression?

Back

Gene suppression is the process by which a gene's expression is inhibited, preventing the production of its corresponding protein.

Front

What is translocation in genetics?

Back

Translocation is a chromosomal abnormality where a segment of one chromosome is transferred to another chromosome, which can lead to gene fusion and potential oncogene formation.

Front

What is amplification in the context of oncogenes?

Back

Amplification refers to the increase in the number of copies of a gene, which can lead to overexpression of proteins that promote cell division.

Front

What is alternative RNA splicing?

Back

Alternative RNA splicing is a process that allows a single gene to code for multiple proteins by including or excluding certain exons during mRNA processing.

Front

What is the function of enhancers in eukaryotic cells?

Back

Enhancers function to enhance the transcription of associated genes by providing binding sites for transcription factors, often located far from the gene they regulate.